When did it start, and is it a command from God?
Answers (3)
It is not reliable to let people tell you what the bible says. Many people will make up stuff because they don't know what it says, and many will make up stuff because they wish it would not say what it says. You just have to read it for yourself. Read a chapter of Proverbs every day. Proverbs has 31 chapters so you can keep your place by just looking at a calendar. There is no religion or nothing in Proverbs and you don't have to believe anything. Just read to find wisdom. When you are comfortable with that, then read the bible from Romans to 2 Thessalonians over and over until you start to remember what it says. That is the part that applies to Christians. Here is a book to help you to understand the bible. It's a free download and you can get a hard copy at any bible book store.
www.philologos.org/__eb-htetb/ "How To Enjoy The Bible"
The bible says a lot about money, and every bit of it is twisted by modern preachers. "Tithe" means "tenth". The Jews were commanded to give a tenth of various crops to the temple. It was not a tenth of all income, only a tenth of the increase of certain crops and only at harvest time.
The word "tithe" appears in the new testament only referring to Jews, not Christians. It is easy to go to www.biblegateway.com/ and look up every usage of a word. Just type it into the search box.
1 Corinthians 16:2 "Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come." This verse is quoted by modern preachers to justify a collection every Sunday wherever they preach! There is no place in the new testament that commands a collection.
If you study the bible as I have suggested, you will have to be careful not to embarrass your minister, because you will know a lot more about the bible than most ministers do.
Tithe is mention in the bible at Malachi 3:10, Bring the entire tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in my storehouse, and test me out, please, in this regard, Jehovah of armies says, "to see whether I will not open to you the floodgates of the heavens and pour out on you a blessing until there is nothing lacking." This was a command given to the Israelites at that time to prepare them for the farming that was to occur. No where in the bible did God command that we give a specific amount of tithing at any given time. An offering or a contribution should be something that stems from the heart. When a tithe is specify then the motive to give will be out of a command and not out of one's own heart. An offering should be something one wants and willing to do and not something we do because the church or someone telling us how much should be our offering. Acts 20:35 says, " There is more happiness giving, that receiving." According to that scripture happiness comes from our voluntary offering and not what someone tells us to give. Jesus never tells us how much to give, but he did tell us to give the best we could to our Heavenly Father . Which involves our time and service to him and to our neighbors and those in need and to the upkeeping of his house . Most importantly we are told over and over the offering that Jesus command at Matthew 28:19 is a must, "Go, therefore, and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." That command is a must for all Christians. If it's any sacrificial offering that's most worthy is this command. Why is this sacrifice so important? Because people lives and your live is involve.
If you need more information or have other questions please contact me or visit our website at JW.org
Tithing is mentioned in the Bible. However, there was a purpose for this. It was not a law but was incorporated in the principle of the law. Read Leviticus 27 v 30 - 32. The tithe was for the Levites, when a tenth was dedicated to the priestly class.
Today, Christians are not obligated to pay tithes.
Thank you for your input.